Rural Equity Specialist
The Rural Equity Specialist performs a wide range of technical and interpersonal activities across southwest Minnesota to build and strengthen local Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) leaders and organizations by defining strengths and challenges, building skills and being a resource to the region. Within this, the Rural Equity Specialist will identify and reinforce social capital; diversify the regional nonprofit sector; and create more connected, resilient, and inclusive communities where all people have the support and resources to thrive. The individual in this role conducts community engagement work in several areas, including, but not limited to, community development, nonprofit development, narrative change, and leadership building. This work is highly autonomous and entails extensive relationship building with individuals, strategic partners, public officials, and policy changers. As such, this position requires exceptional interpersonal and communication skills. Additionally, this position offers a high degree of flexibility and creativity for the individual to develop and promote new initiatives and projects that align with SWIF’s values, goals, and mission.
See the full job description for the Rural Equity Specialist and apply online.
Applications open through Nov. 29, 2021.
Apply to the Rural Equity SpecialistYouth and Family Specialist
The Youth and Family Specialist performs a wide range of technical and interpersonal activities across southwest Minnesota to build and strengthen southwest Minnesota’s children, youth and families. Through program management and community engagement, this position creates community connections and resource deployment in opportunities that impact critical needs for the education and well-being of children birth-to-18 and families across southwest Minnesota. Thriving youth and families are core to the success of SWIF’s Grow Our Own Initiative, so this content expert works to focus the impact of the foundation in areas that create opportunities for economic mobility to ensure that all people – especially those with the fewest resources – can access what they need to succeed in school and life. Through our cradle to career approach, this person will synchronize and implement appropriate emergent strategies that impact early childhood, youth mental health, and wholistic models of family care and support.
See the full job description for the Youth and Family Specialist and apply online.
Applications open through Nov. 29, 2021.
Apply to the Youth and Family SpecialistWho We Are
Southwest Initiative Foundation is an independent community foundation supported by individuals, families, businesses, and organizations who want to strengthen southwest Minnesota. Founded in 1986, we’ve become a trusted partner and a regional leader. We work hard to make southwest Minnesota a great place.
We believe that dignity and belonging are core human values and that all people deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential. We are a human-centered organization and acknowledge that people have different needs and aspirations. We commit to removing barriers that prevent full participation in southwest Minnesota’s abundant opportunities. We use our resources to create opportunities for all people to thrive in the communities they call home.
The Southwest Initiative Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and proudly values diversity. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.
How We Work
We believe the future of southwest Minnesota is bright! And we aspire to achieve great things in our region by working together. Caring for the well-being of our amazing team is important to us. Physical, financial, and emotional health is essential for our staff to succeed and for the advancement of our mission. Our talent management focuses on the whole person, their family and how the foundation can help people find their passions and talents and align them with the mission of the organization.
Staff members are expected to be trustworthy, fair and respectful, and we’re accountable for our words and actions. We embrace courageous leadership required to live out our mission. We treat our colleagues, partners and communities with empathy and respect and approach our role in collaborative processes with humility, hospitality and heart.
We value learning and innovation. We continuously seek to expand both personal and organizational knowledge, and we are willing to take healthy risks in pursuit of big ideas.
And we’re fun! Whether it’s some work-related poetry, a story shared across cubicles or a bowl of hot soup on a cold Monday, we like to make each other smile.
